Liquid drainage system with vertical movable light emitter and detector

ABSTRACT

A liquid drainage system comprising, a container having a cavity to receive the liquid. The system has an associated light emitter and light detector being changeable between a first state with the light from the emitter impinging upon the detector, and a second state with the light from the emitter passing away from the detector dependent upon the presence of liquid in the container between the emitter and detector. The system has a device for moving the emitter and detector vertically along the container.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 484,109, filed Apr. 11,1983 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to liquid drainage systems, and moreparticularly to devices such as urine drainage systems.

In the past, urine drainage systems have been known. Such systemsnormally comprise a container having a cavity to receive the urine, acatheter which is passed through the urethra of a patient until a distalend of the catheter is located in the patient's bladder, and a drainagetube communicating between a proximal end of the catheter locatedoutside the patient's body and the container cavity. During use, urinedrains from the bladder through the catheter and drainage tube into thecontainer for collection therein.

The containers have normally been provided with a transparent wall withvertically disposed indicia on the wall. The volume of urine output wasdetermined by comparing the level of urine in the container against theindicia. However, it is desirable to reduce the time of a nurse in usingthe system, and it also may be desirable to determine the flow rate ofurine into the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of animproved liquid drainage system of simplified construction.

The drainage system of the present invention comprises, a containerhaving a cavity to receive the liquid. The system has an associatedlight emitter and light detector with a vertical portion of thecontainer being disposed between the emitter and detector. The systemhas means for moving the emitter and detector vertically along thecontainer.

A feature of the present invention is that the emitter and detector arechangeable between a first state with the light from the emitterimpinging upon the detector when liquid is absent between the emitterand detector, and a second state with the light from the emitter beingrefracted away from the detector when the liquid is present between theemitter and detector.

Thus, a feature of the present invention is that the emitter anddetector may be utilized to determine the height of liquid level in thecontainer.

Another feature of the invention is that the emitter and detector may bemoved vertically until the liquid level is ascertained in the container.

A further feature of the invention is that the determined liquid levelmay be utilized to ascertain the volume of liquid collected in thecontainer.

Yet another feature of the invention is that the time of collection maybe ascertained in order to determine the liquid flow rate into thecontainer cavity.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the followingdescription of the embodiments of this invention and from the appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a liquid drainage system ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 illustrating use of a light emitter andlight detector when liquid is absent between the emitter and detector;and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating use of theemitter and detector when liquid is present between the emitter anddetector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a liquid drainage system 10comprising a rigid container 12, a drainage tube 16 communicating withan upper portion of the container 12, and a central processing unit 18.The container 12 has a front wall 20 of rigid plastic material, and aback wall 22 of rigid plastic material, with the front wall 20 and backwall 22 being joined at their periphery in order to define a cavity 24intermediate the front and back walls 20 and 22. The container 12 mayhave a vent 26 for the chamber 24, with the vent 26 having a bacteriafilter of known type in order to filter bacteria from the air passingfrom the atmosphere into the cavity 24. The container 12 has avertically extending protuberance 28 on the front wall 20, with theprotuberance 28 defining a channel 30. A downstream end 32 of the tube16 communicates with an upper portion of the cavity 24.

The system 10 has a housing 34 of transparent plastic material having agroove 36 to receive the protuberance 28, such that the housing 34 isslidably movable in a vertical direction along the protuberance 28. Thehousing 34 has a photoelectric light emitter 38 mounted in the housing34 on one side of the protuberance 28, and a photoelectric lightdetector 40 mounted in the housing 34 on the other side of theprotuberance 28. As shown, the emitter 38 is connected to the centralprocessing unit 18 by an electrically conductive lead, and the emitter38 is selectively energized by the central processing unit 18. Also, thedetector 40 is connected by an electrically conductive lead to thecentral processing unit 18, such that the central processing unit 18 maydetect a change of state in the detector 40.

The system 10 has a lower stepper motor 42 which is connected by one ormore electrically conductive leads to the central processing unit 18 inorder to energize the motor 42. The system 10 has a vertically disposedthreaded rod or shaft 44 received in the motor 42, with an upper end ofthe shaft 44 being pivotally connected to the housing 34. The motor 42has an internally threaded rotor which is fitted with the shaft 44.Energization of the motor coils by the central processing unit 18 inproper sequence will cause the threaded shaft 44 to move outwardly orback into the rotor in precise linear increments, such as 0.001 inch or0.002 inch per pulse. As the motor 42 is energized and the shaft 44moves in or out of the motor 42, the housing 34 and associated emitter38 and detector 40 are caused to move vertically along the container 12.

With reference to FIG. 2, when the liquid in the cavity 24 is absentbetween the emitter and detector 38 and 40, the emitter and detector 38and 40 are in a first state with the light from the emitter 38 impingingupon the detector 40 which may be sensed by the central processing unit18. With reference to FIG. 3, when the liquid level is present betweenthe emitter 38 and detector 40 in a second state, the light from theemitter 38 is refracted by the liquid away from the detector 40 whichmay be sensed by the central processing unit 18. Of course, thecontainer 12 and emitter and detector 38 and 40 may be designed suchthat light from the emitter 38 is refracted onto the detector 40 whenliquid is present between the emitter and detector 38 and 40, and thelight from the emitter 38 may pass away from the detector 40 when theliquid is absent between the emitter and detector 38 and 40.

In use of the system 10, the central processing unit 18 actuates themotor 42 to position the housing 34 at a predetermined lowermostposition adjacent a lower portion of the cavity 24. The distal end of acatheter (not shown) is passed through the urethra of a patient untilthe distal end of the catheter is located in the patient's bladder, andan upstream end of the drainage tube 16 is connected to a proximal endof the catheter located outside the patient's body. Liquid drainsthrough the catheter and drainage tube into the container cavity 24 forcollection therein.

In accordance with the present invention, when it is desired todetermine the volume of liquid collected in the container 12, thecentral processing unit 18 energizes the motor 42 in order to causevertical movement of the shaft 44 and housing 34. Assuming a quantity ofliquid has already been collected in the cavity 24, the emitter 38 anddetector 40 will be in the second state, as shown in FIG. 3, when thehousing 34 is located adjacent a lower portion of the container 12. Whenthe housing 34 moves slightly above the liquid level in the cavity 24,the emitter 38 and detector 40 change to the first state, as shown inFIG. 2, and as sensed by the central processing unit 18, at which timethe motor 42 may be stopped. The number of pulses applied to the motor42 by the central processing unit 18 may be counted by the centralprocessing unit 18 in order to reach the vertical position of the liquidlevel in the cavity 24. Each of the pulses applied to the motor 42translates to a predetermined vertical movement of the housing 34 andassociated emitter 38 and detector 40, and the vertical position of theliquid level in the cavity 24 may thus be calculated by the number ofpulses applied to the motor 42 in order to position the housing 34 atthe liquid level in the cavity 24. In turn, from the liquid level heightin the cavity 24 the central processing unit 18 may calculate anddisplay the volume of liquid in the container cavity 24 from the knowndimensions of the container 12. Also, the central processing unit 18 maydetermine the time during collection of urine in the cavity 24 in orderto calculate the liquid flow rate into the cavity 24 according to thevolume of liquid in the cavity 24 and the time period of collection. Theflow rate of the liquid into the cavity 24 may also be displayed by thecentral processing unit 18.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:
 1. A liquid drainage system comprising:a container having acavity to receive the liquid; an associated light emitter and lightdetector being changeable between a first state with the light from theemitter impringing upon the detector, and a second state with the lightform the emitter passing away from the detector dependent upon thepresence of liquid in the container between the emitter and detector;and means for moving the emitter and detector vertically along thecontainer comprising means for housing the light emitter and lightdetector in fixed relationship to one another, a vertical threaded shaftarranged alongside the container, the housing means being mounted on topof the threaded shaft, and stepper motor means located beneath and infixed relationship to the container, the vertical shaft being rotatableby the stepper motor means whereby upon energization of the steppermotor means, the housing and threaded shaft are caused to travelvertically alongside the container.
 2. The system of claim 1 whereinsaid container includes a generally vertically extending protuberancedefining a channel, with said emitter and detector being disposed onopposed sides of the protuberance and slidable along the protuberance.3. The system of claim 1 including means for calculating the volume ofliquid collected in the cavity.
 4. The system of claim 1 including meansfor calculating the liquid flow rate into the cavity.
 5. A liquiddrainage system, comprising:a container having a cavity to receive theliquid; an associated light emitter and light detector with a generallyvertical portion of the container being disposed between the emitter anddetector, said emitter and detector being changeable between a firststate with the light from the emitter impinging upon the detector whenliquid is absent between the emitter and detector, and a second statewith the light from the emitter being refracted away from the detectorwhen the liquid is present between the emitter and detector; and meansfor moving the emitter and detector generally vertically along thecontainer comprising means for housing the light emitter, and lightdetector in fixed relationship to one another, a vertical threaded shaftarranged alongside the container, the housing means being mounted on topof the threaded shaft, and stepper motor means located beneath and infixed relationship to the container, the vertical shaft being threadedthrough and incrementally rotatable by the stepper motor means wherebyupon energization of the motor means, the housing and threaded shaft arecaused to travel vertically alongside the container.
 6. The system ofclaim 5 wherein said container includes a generally vertically extendingprotuberance defining a channel, with said emitter and detector beingdisposed on opposed sides of the protuberance and slidable along theprotuberance.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the container is rigid.8. The system of claim 5 wherein the housing is pivotally connected tothe top of the threaded rod.
 9. The system of claim 5 including meansfor calculating the volume of liquid collected in the cavity.
 10. Thesystem of claim 5 including means for calculating the liquid flow rateinto the cavity.